DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE

Newcastle Falcons allowed an ordinary Gloucester side to build a comfortable lead through flagrant and needless indiscipline.

Billy Twelvetrees nailed nine of the 11 penalties the Falcons shipped in their own half, director of rugby Dean Richards hammering his players in his post-match Press conference.

Stupid, crazy and ridiculous were just three of the words the Newcastle boss chose to characterise the conduct of his men as they handed easy points to a Cherry and Whites side who did not need to get out of third gear.

Second-half improvements are all well and good, but if you’re carrying a 27-3 deficit into half-time the game has already gone.

Richards suggested “Monday will be an interesting day at the office” as they review the footage of the Falcons’ many indiscretions.

I, for one, am glad I won’t be there to see it.

IT’S NOT A RELEGATION FIGHT... YET

Newcastle Falcons fans stand a very real chance of talking their team into a relegation battle if Friday is anything to go by.

My twitter feed was buzzing with comments from supporters aghast not only at the Falcons’ loss, but Worcester’s one-point win over Northampton.

The Warriors were the pre-season favourites to finish bottom this season, Newcastle the next-best tip at the betting offices for the drop.

But folk need to remember we’re only one week into a 22-game season.

Relegation can become a self-fulfilling prophecy if people drone on about it, especially so early in the piece.

Yes, Friday was disappointing, but let’s maintain some perspective.

THE SECOND COMING OF MICHAEL YOUNG SHOWS PROMISE

He lasted just 15 minutes before departing with a whack to the ribs, but Michael Young helped transform Newcastle’s performance.

The former Bath and Leicester scrum-half now wants to be known by the full version of his Christian name, and if he keeps playing like this he can be called anything he wants.

His chip out of nothing almost conjured a try for Ally Hogg, his service was slick and he threatened the fringe defence.

The former England Saxon showed a level of calm decision-making not always present during his first stint at the club, and if he can last for longer during games his second spell on Tyneside could be a very productive one indeed.

MIKE DELANY MAKES THINGS HAPPEN

The Kiwi fly-half hit all four of his kicks at goal, one a memorable penalty from the half-way line.

If nothing else he put the rest of the Premiership on notice that they cannot afford to concede penalties inside their own half, some of his handling also creating try-scoring opportunities.

He fed Chris Harris and Simon Hammersley on inside angles for their touch-downs, and while the sharpness is not entirely there yet, there was plenty to enthuse supporters that his signing will prove a success.

RUGBY WORLD CUP AN IMPOSSIBLE ACT TO FOLLOW

It was always going to be the case that Newcastle Falcons could not entirely recreate the magic of three Rugby World Cup games at St James’ Park.

The international tournament might have drawn a few more through the Kingston Park gates, and the key now is retaining them.

Friday’s result and the tide of penalties against the Falcons will not have done much to help, but there are some easy wins they can put right.

The stadium announcer failed to call the Falcons’ third try-scorer (George McGuigan, since you ask) and showed little interest in announcing Gloucester’s replacements throughout.

Little things, you might think, but easy to do, and all benefiting the experience of the paying punter.

Club rugby was never going to carry the same lustre as the All Blacks or Springboks, and in fairness nobody pretended it would. But with so many rugby converts trying the Falcons on the back of the World Cup buzz, the players and club as a whole have a responsibility to deliver a better product.